Witnesses said people were running around and hiding behind cars to dodge the bullets. Others said they hid in the bathrooms of the club until police arrived.

Katie Britton of Dallas said she had gone to the nightclub to sing karaoke with friends. She had gone outside with some to smoke when she noticed a group of several dozen young people in the parking lot. Those teens had apparently been inside a separate "teen club" inside the nightclub.

"I could tell something was about to go down. People started taking off their shirts and they looked like they were ready to fight," Britton said.

Britton said she and her friends went back inside the nightclub to avoid any trouble.

"About 20 seconds after we went back inside some kids busted through the door yelling that they were shooting," Britton said.

Several women ran to the women's bathroom for safety. Britton said she and three other women stayed locked inside a women's bathroom stall for what seemed like 20 minutes.

"It was chaotic, but the police did a good job," Britton said.

Britton said she neither saw a gun nor heard any gunshots, but that it was frightening.

"It was just a stupid mess," Britton said.

Police said the other shooting happened in the McDonald's parking lot near the intersection of Hudson Boulevard and Union Road. Police say a 20-year-old man was shot around 12:50 a.m., but his condition was not immediately known.

Officials said the two shootings are connected.

No one was taken to the hospital via ambulance from the nightclub, but some may have gone by private vehicle, according to GEMS.

WSOC TV contributed to this report.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.